Device for measuring the length of boots and shoes.



1. A. LITTLE. DEVICE FOR MEASURING THE LENGTH 0F BOOTS AND SHOES. vIIIILICATION FILED MAR. I7. I9I5 21 ,TTG/em? m". v

raras Josnrn A. Lrrfrt'e, or CHICAGO, LLm'i'gg 'l i f Levasseillinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for hfleasuring y the'Lengtlr-of Boots and Shoes, fof which the following is a specification.`

rlhe object of myl invention is to provide a device for accurately measuring the inside length of boots and shoes.

As is well understood in the shoe trade,

vthe indications of size placed on boots and shoes by the inani'ifacturers are quite frequently incorrect. This is the cause of very A considerable, inconvenience and expense, particularly where the goods are sold to customers at a' distance on mail orders. in the case of a mail order house doing a large business in this line, the cost of making eX- changes due to the inaccurate marking ol" sizes ,on the boots and shoes by the ina-nufacturer, may bevery considerable. VBesides this, the good will of a customer is likely to be impaired ii he receives an ill itting shoe.

My invention provides a simple devie whereby the inside'length of a hoot or shoe may be very readily and conveniently measured so that the seller may be perfectly certain that a customer will get exactly the size which he has ordered. The length. sizles of shoes are, of course, standard for all makes. The dilculty arises from the fact piece of the' measuring device.

that through carelessness, or `for other reasons, the size/ marked on they boot or shoe 'is not always accurate. This is especially true in regard to eXtra size shoes, such as mens twelve size and ladies n ine size slices. Many manufacturers do not have these eXtra size lasts so they maire the ladies nine size on an eight last and the mens twelve size on an eleven last.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, in the accon'ipanying drawing, wherein l Figure l is a View in elevation of a shoe with the length measuring device ,of my'invention shown as applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a view, in perspective, ofthe heel Fig. 3 and l i Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line is asimilar view of the toe piece,

f--LlofFig-l.4

Referring to the drawing, the heel piece Specification of Letters Patent.'

Applications-i March 17, 19.15. serial no. 111,99

lpreferably in theqstjrai 'estres consists ofltwo me, cured together injany, u example, byscrevvu" 1.2,.g X, formed with a cur'v slotgllt toe piece '141. The llileelipl'eee d formed with a curved,(bggingport n lel which fits against/tl emeouptieiylof shoe. The slot 13 for the i `ted above the bulging p preferably made of 5?.. 1. thinstrip of metal which isA diie to the plane of the'- s,1 is: oeih lving reference to the posi 0 1 device assumes when in'us of the toe piece is s closely` inte the toe end of theA toe piet;

graduated scale are read A in the gement, shown 1n the drav,l 1 6tlg? Off 'the shank portion fl piece and are accurately calculated t0 indicate they linear distance between the eXtreme points on the toe and heel pieces. Preferably theA lower edge of the heel piece is formed with i a pointed prong 19 for the purpose of accurately positioning the device in the shoe during` the measuring operation.

The device is also provided preferably with means for rigidly connecting. the toe piece to the heel piece. -For eXample`,-the heel piece may be provided'with a set screw 2O to bear against the measuring strip or toe piece 14. Thus, if it is not convenient to-read the scale with the device in the boot or shoe, as may be the case in measuring a boot having a-high top, the parts of the device may he locked` together by the set' screw and the device removed from the boot.

tion, and I, therefore, do not wish to bel understood as-limiting the invention to the i details ,of construetiondescribed and shown,

except' so far' as Athe claims are `specifically so limited. In the yclaims I have .used thei word shoe for want of a generic term covering boots, shoes, slippers, overshoes and the like. It Willbe obvious that the deviceniight be used for measuring the length of any article of the general class ot Jfootwear.

I claini:

1. A device for measuring the inside length of a shoe comprising a heel ypiece adapted to tity in subetantially upright position in thc heel portion of the shoe against the counter of the shoe, formed with a shank and a rearwardlvv bulging portion below the shank, and a toe piece engaged with and guided b v the heel piece so as to be movable only in the direction of its length upon the shank portion ot' the heel piece, curved downwardl)Y so as to extend into the toe of the shoe to the extremity thereof and :so that the other extremity n ill lie between said shank and the back portion of the shoe. and'provided with a graduated scale readable upon a tixed point on said shank.

2. A device for measuring the inside length of a shoe7 comprisinga heel piece adapted to fit into the heel of a Shoe and formed with .a Slot; a toe piece curved in a plane nornial with a shank and a rearwardlvY bulging' portion below the shank. the shank having' a slot extendiniY therethrough. a toe piece adapted to slide through said slot and provided with a graduated scale adapted to be read upon a fixed point on v@aid shank, and ineans: for fasteningsaid toe piece rigidl)v to said heel piece.

el. A device for ineaeuring` the ineide length ol a Shoe, comprising a heel piece, the upper portion ot' whichfornis a relativelvv Straight elianlt, the? lower portion, of which ,is bulged out rearwardl)Y 5o as to it the counter of the shoe. the shank being formed with a curved slot and the Vlower edge of the heel piece provided with a prong;` a ltrip ot' lnetal curved in a plane normal to the plane ot' the Sole of the shoe slidable through Said slot` formed at it#y forward end to tit into the toe of the shoe and provided with a graduated scale. the graduationsof which when read in connection with a tixed point on the heel piece indicate the lineal distance measured h v said device; and a set screw for t'asteuing said strip rigidlyv to said heel piece.

JOSEPH A. Ll'lf'lflil.

Witnesses:

L. A. Faniinxnnn, G. Y. SKINNRR. 

